The Lead Crown: Ch 2a, League of Leaves (Pt 4)
Tranquil Waters: The Lead Crown Ch 2-4, League of Leaves
Gift-of-the-Earth was more insulted than concerned that the Undesirable was joining them on the path to his village. Although the Valley Tribe had yet to deal negatively with the man known as among the Rock Tribe as Henry Evans, his people had no interest when it came to interaction with a pariah of such standing. In all, the bear spent his time as far across the group from the human as he could.
Tobias made several attempts to speak with Gift-of-the-Earth throughout the rest of the day but the bear kept all discussion simple and to-the-point. He had no intention of creating a conversation that the Undesirable would find reason to join. The prong horn was astute enough to have likely guessed at Gift-of-the-Earth's sudden clamped-muzzle approach and had, several times, attempted to start a conversation in the bear's native tongue, but the merchant was not wholly convinced that the Undesirable was ignorant to it.
Finally, as the party began to set camp for the night, Gift-of-the-Earth decided to take the opportunity to approach Tobias, who had been courteous enough to give him space for the several hours prior. "Friend Tobias," the bear greeted him, mindful of the _Undesirable'_s place in camp which, thankfully, happened to be on the far side.
"Friend Gift-of-the-Earth." the antelope bowed his head respectfully, "I was starting to fear that you were not going to say another word during our entire journey."
The merchant glanced over his shoulder to the Undesirable human, then back to the scholar, "I have no interest in traveling with the Undesirable." he stated simply and to the point, "You and your companions helped me when I was in need, and I am content to return the favor... but I want nothing to do with that creature."
Tobias nodded with a sigh, "I can understand and respect that, Friend Gift-of-the-Earth... and I apologize if having him around makes you uncomfortable."
"I do not understand how your people can accept him." the bear offered calmly. He attempted to keep any judgment out of his voice at the Rock Tribe's willingness to have any kind of interaction with an Undesirable; it was a strange thing considering how many rules they had that turning away someone who would feast on The People would not be breaking at least one of them by doing what he did.
"There is a word in my native tongue called 'pragmatism'." the prong horn stated.
"Prag-muh-tizz-em." the Gift-of-the-Earth slowly sounded it out, "It is not a simple word." he added.
"And the idea behind it isn't exactly simple either." Tobias knelt down to set up the metal bars that would help support the roof of his small cloth tent. The bear likewise joined him, and helped steady the frame as the scholar secured it. Once that was done, the antelope spoke further, "It means that personal views can be change for the sake of practicality... that morals and rules have some amount of leeway when there's need."
"My people practice this 'prag-muh-tizz-em' as well." Gift-of-the-Earth acknowledged, "Any rule that does not have a good purpose is, by its nature, able to be set aside when there is need..." the bear regarded the scholar, "Although there are many rules that exist for a reason... such as shunning those who eat the flesh of The People..."
"He isn't eating OUR flesh..." Tobias shrugged, "And he helped us against men who meant us harm... so it's hard to condemn him when he's aiding us."
"And you will accept him until he DOES eat one of you?" Gift-of-the-Earth inquired.
"I suppose until he tries... yes." the scholar nodded.
"So you acknowledge that he is a great warrior, and can help you when he chooses too... how then will you defend yourselves if he chooses to do so?" It was a forward question, but it also had the desired effect.
"I..." the antelope paused, "I don't know."
"This is a good answer, Friend Tobias... because it means you have the opportunity to think on it now." the bear stood once again, stretching as he did so, "What I DO know is that the village will not receive the Undesirable kindly. I am worried that my people will not respond well to you because you choose to travel with him."
"Don't worry none about that." the Undesirable noted, walking right up to them. Despite the fact that they had been speaking in the bear's own language, the human had apparently been able to eavesdrop. His response, however was in the Rock Tribe's tongue, "I'm not that keen on seein' yer village anyway, so I'll prolly just part ways before we get there."
"That may be wise for everyone involved." Tobias offered in their language; Gift-of-the-Earth didn't miss the carefully subdued smile on the antelope's lips, hinting what the bear already knew: the human wasn't a wholly welcomed presence, and that thought comforted the merchant to no end. Without bothering to offer an end to the discussion, Gift-of-the-Earth left the scholar with the Undesirable and found his way to the other side of the camp.
"I'm NOT saying commoners are stupid!" the white furred ermine stated emphatically, "I'm just saying not everyone has what it takes to get into the University."
"Like money... connections... political power..." the rough-and-tumble sea-smelling human counted them off on his fingers. Two days ago Gift-of-the-Earth would likely have had trouble following along the quickly spoken argument, but he surprised himself in that he was getting better with the casually spoken Rock Tribe tongue.
"Now you're putting words into my muzzle." Theo the scholar objected, "All I said was that a lot of people wouldn't do well in even the introductory classes."
"Because commoners are stupid..." Nicholas reiterated, "You may as well say it, prissy-paws... you think you're better'n most the people who work harder in a day than you do all year." the human followed up the accusation with a hearty snort and spit.
"That's not what I'm saying at all!" the ermine objected, "I'm just making an observation about what it takes to be a scholar at the University!"
"Well, how'd you like it if I said you prolly wouldn't survive ten minutes as a sailor?" the human challenged.
"I'd say that you'd probably be right." Theo admitted, "I'm just not sailor material."
"Because it's too lowly a job for ya?" Nicholas grunted with a scowl, "Is that it?"
The ermine's expression changed immediately from defensive to indignant, "You're playing with me... that's it, isn't it?" Theo paused when the human's frown turned into a smirk, "You're having a laugh at my expense!" the scholar challenged the sailor.
"You're one a the rich-y types, prissy-paws..." Nicholas finished laying out his bedroll, "I figure you can afford to let me do some things at your expense."
"Well I don't appreciate it, thank you very much." Theo responded, "You keep talking about how the nobility and the church and the scholars always pick on the commoners, but now you think it's fair game to--"
"Enough, please." Tobias announced, walking back across camp with the Undesirable trailing him, "We don't need to broadcast our location to anyone within shouting range."
"No worries there..." the Undesirable human spoke up, "yer fires aren't curbed so you're already doin just that." Gift-of-the-Earth took his leave as Tobias and his 'pet human' wandered past; the bear was pleased in the sense that he didn't have to mention the fires himself.
One place in all the camp where it seemed the man known as Henry Evans hadn't made himself present was near the dragon and the white fox that had seemed to have taken the post as his 'keeper'. Not waiting to hear any more of the discussion, Gift-of-the-Earth made his way to the third of three corners of their bivouac. He caught sight of the cowl-wearing, red-scaled dragon sitting by the fire but, before he could engage the young saurian in conversation he was intercepted.
"Hello, Earth." Sanmer greeted him, stepping between the bear and the dragon.
"Greetings." Gift-of-the-Earth responded simply, "You have made a good fire." he gestured to the campfire that was suitably screened from long-distance viewing.
"Thanks." the fox announced proudly, "Kesst did it."
"You have some worldly skills." the merchant addressed the dragon, glancing past Sanmer.
"We all have our strong points." the fox took a step to interpose himself again, "It's good to have the right people for the right--" Sanmer ceased talking as Gift-of-the-Earth bodily hefted him and set him aside, "...job."
The bear approached Kesst "You do not spend much time talking, Young One." he addressed the seated dragon directly.
Kesst shrugged, the gesture very faint, and almost unnoticed, "I don't usually have a lot to say." he offered, eyes on the fire.
"I have not seen many dragons." Gift-of-the-Earth admitted, "But, from the few words you have spoken, it sounds like you have seen some of my people."
"The Two-Souls." Kesst spoke, with an almost endearing sense of awe in his voice.
"Tell me, Young One," Gift-of-the-Earth used the honorific title again as he took a seat on the ground beside the dragon; the merchant was somewhat surprised that Kesst didn't recoil from him, "The men who saved you from those who meant you harm... did any of them wear one of these?" and the bear pulled a Bonding Stone from his hip pouch, presenting it to Kesst, "This is called a Bonding Stone... the Two-Souls wear them."
"They... uh..." he paused, "Yea! Yes!" he announced, pointing to it, "Prince Malcom was wearing one!"
"Prince Malcom?" Sanmer questioned, quickly sliding between the bear and the dragon as he spoke, "Like... THE Prince?'
"He was with the Tribals who saved me." Kesst responded.
"So... you're saying you saw the PRINCE turn into an animal?" the fox questioned.
"It is not impossible to believe." Gift-of-the-Earth acknowledged, "Prince Malcom completed the ritual of the Two-Souls some years ago while he was staying with the Oak Tribe."
"You mean OUR Prince Malcom?" Sanmer interjected, "Are you sure?"
"I made his Bonding Stone for him." the bear nodded, "I believe I can say that I am very sure, yes, Sanmer."
"Wow..." the fox murmured, holding up the Bonding Stone; Gift-of-the-Earth was caught by surprise that Sanmer had somehow taken it from him without him noticing, "Can I have it?' the white-furred fox asked.
"If you wish to buy it, I can will sell it to you, yes." the bear acknowledged, "It is imperfect, and I cannot present it to a--"
"Sure sure... that's fine." Sanmer acknowledged, cutting Gift-of-the-Earth off in the discussion, "I mean... it's still a Bonding Stone, right?"
Gift-of-the-Earth scowled, suddenly wondering exactly what Sanmer had in mind for it, "Anyone familiar with them would know that it was not a--"
"How familiar?" the fox's eyes caught his gaze, the intensity of the question very distinct.
"Any of my people would know it was not a--"
"Sold." Sanmer grinned, dumping a small bag of coins into the bear's paw, which was outstretched in a half-completed gesture, "That's good enough... you think?"
Gift-of-the-Earth's mind worked at a feverish pace to try and figure out how the trade could cause problems in the future; the fox's keen mind was obviously far keener than the merchant's. In the end the bear sighed, "Yes... our trade is complete."
Sanmer's grin grew wider as the amulet disappeared into the folds of his clothing, and the fox said not another word about it. Perhaps it was that silence that concerned Gift-of-the-Earth the most.